Saturday, April 12, 2008

St. Benedict and his Rule of St. Benedict. Did we all miss something in our public education? Because of the power and effectiveness of his Rule for monks living in a community, St. Benedict is often called the father of Western monasticism, born at Nursia, Italy c. 480; died at the famous monastery he founded, Monte Cassino, Italy, 543 AD. It has been said other than the Bible, the Rule of St. Benedict has been the most important book for the development of Western civilization.

I heard recently on EWTN (Eternal Word Television Network) that virtually every ancient scroll that survived to the 700's has survived to today — thanks to the monks. Their contribution to the preservation of Western civilization is remarkable. And that is just one of the many things they did while sitting silently in their rooms behind monastery walls.

July 11 What's New on this Oblate Blog and the companion Oblate Spring web site:

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You are welcomed here as Christ

Hi, I'm John, blogging about my life as a Benedictine oblate of a Catholic monastery. I write about the oblate manner of living and Benedictine spirituality.

Oblates live in the world and are regular people just like you. I'll share my lifestyle that follows monastic practices from the earliest desert fathers and the ancient Rule of St. Benedict. There are about 25,000 Benedictine oblates in the world. More about this blog.

This oblate blog is the companion to my Oblate Spring website which describes oblate spirituality and provides links, summaries, and lists of oblate resources.

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St. Cecilia

Saint Cecilia is one of the four great virgin martyrs. The others are St. Agnes, St. Agatha and St. Lucy. Even in death St. Cecilia witnesses to truth. Her right hand shows three persons, the Trinity. Her left hand, one God.